TRENTON — School funding and security are being discussed as state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf testifies today before the Senate Education Committee for the first time since he was confirmed as commissioner last year.

Budget committees in both houses of the Legislature earlier this month objected to the Governor's Education Adequacy Report, which recommends changes in education funding that could mean less money for urban districts.

With Cerf invited to appear before the committee to address a variety of educational issues, members of the Education Committee also raised questions about the proposed funding changes.

"If we don't spend money on the front end of life, we're going to spend it on the back end of life," said Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer).

Cerf, however, said New Jersey's spending is "incredibly generous" and the issue is "how we make sure it is spent on things that will truly make a difference."

Cerf was asked to appear by Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Teresa Ruiz, (D-Essex), who said she sought an "open dialogue about what is the vision of the Department of Education, and where we are moving forward."

The first topic to come up was school security in the era after the tragic shootings in Newtown, Conn.

Cerf said New Jersey's school security rules and regulations are already comprehensive and will include "a very small number of unannounced visits" by department staff conducting surprise security drills.

He said it is a "highly local decision" if school districts want to put armed police officers in schools, as some have done.

When asked whether he believed the state's 2 percent spending cap would affect spending on school security, Cerf said no.